Judge Who Awarded 22 Death Sentences in Four Months Gives Another Despite Threats

Muzaffarnagar, Sept 8: Additional District and Sessions Judge Ravi Kumar Diwakar, who has awarded 22 death sentences in 10 cases over the past four months, has handed down another capital punishment in a dowry death case despite expressing concerns over threats and pressure from criminal elements.

In his September 7 judgment, the judge said he would rather die than be known as a “coward judge” who surrendered to the dictates of mafias, strongmen or criminals. He said his parents had taught him from childhood to fear only God and no other person.

“If I become fearful of other forces, it would be appropriate for me to resign from this sacred judicial institution,” Diwakar observed in his judgment. He asserted that as long as he occupied the judge’s chair, the authority to take decisions and deliver judgments would remain with him.

The judge said people approach courts with the expectation that judges will remain impartial, fearless and courageous while performing their judicial duties. Allowing fear of influential persons or criminals to affect judicial decisions, he said, would be contrary to that public expectation.

The development comes amid scrutiny of the judge’s unusually high number of death sentences. Between April 6 and July 17, he had sentenced 17 people to death in seven murder trials, while the total reached 22 accused across 10 cases in four months.

Meanwhile, 97 murder cases pending before Diwakar’s court were recently transferred following an administrative order issued by the Muzaffarnagar District and Sessions Judge on August 18.

Under Sections 407 to 412 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, death sentences awarded by a Sessions Court cannot be executed unless confirmed by the High Court. The sentences passed by the Muzaffarnagar court will therefore be placed before the Allahabad High Court for confirmation, along with any appeals filed by the convicts.

Courtesy: Story by Ruchi Bhattar